Latestarticle

 

Egypt's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Abdel Aziz Qansua affirmed that the Ministry is actively working to enhance Egypt regional and international standing in higher education.

This strategy aims to boost the knowledge economy by internationalizing major Egyptian universities and establishing branches outside Egypt to export educational services and build a sustainable academic presence.

The Minister explained that this move responds to the growing demand for high quality yet affordable educational models which represents a real competitive advantage for Egypt.

He noted that education is no longer just an academic service but a powerful tool for soft power. The strategic goal is to reestablish Egypt historical position as an influential regional and global player in higher education by selecting leading universities with high international rankings and strong academic reputations for overseas expansion.

The plan includes globalizing academic programs through an increase in dual and joint degrees with a flexible study model that encourages students to attend the parent university for a year or two. The Minister highlighted the focus on strategically significant regions selecting geographical locations that maximize academic and cultural returns, this coincides with expanding joint programs with high ranking foreign universities and hosting franchise based programs to ensure global competitiveness.

Qansua outlined a phased expansion model to deepen Egypt presence in global markets:

Phase One: Focusing on current markets such as African and Arab nations while expanding programs in English and French to attract a broader student base.

Phase Two: Opening up to promising markets in Central and Southeast Asia where there is an increasing demand for higher education services.

Phase Three: Selective entry into specific markets with a focus on specialized fields such as health programs citing the University of Alexandria experience in Greece as a model to build upon.

The proposed system includes appointing an Academic Provost for each branch with clear executive powers alongside organized financial and administrative independence. This integrated governance framework aims to balance autonomy with accountability enabling branches to achieve sustainable growth rates and operational efficiency while ensuring long term institutional stability.

Source: Egypt Today